Tag Archive: history

What is a flag?

A flag, also known as banner is a piece of fabric which is used as a decoration or a warning sign tool. It is mostly in rectangular shape though one can choose a shape of his liking.

History and uses:

Flags were first used on battlefields to facilitate coordination in military operations. Since then, they have evolved into devices for signaling and identification purposes mostly in places where communication is difficult for instance in maritime. Flags are also used in advertising, for decoration and in messaging. Among the leading uses of a flag is the symbolization of a country or nation.

People have used flags for over four thousand years, with Iran being among the first nations to use flags that were made from metal or wooden poles that were carved on top. Vxilloids was among the first flags to be used. Vexillology means guide in Latin and refers to the scientific study of flags. Bits of clothing material or fabric were put together for decoration purposes.

Flags were used by people to provide information to others for instance in identifying themselves. Knights who went into battle had to carry flags to allow for their easy identification since they were dressed up and covered in armor. Flags allowed soldiers to easily recognize their enemies in battle.

Presently, there is not one country in the world without a flag. A large number of groups organizations and clubs such as Girl scouts and the United Nations all have flags.

Messages spread through flags:

Image credit: Flickr rzhale

For instance, the five circles on the Olympic flag signifies the drawing together of people from five continents to engage in a friendly competition.

The olive branches which embrace the world in the United Nations flag are the significance of peace.

Instead of using many words to explain some ideas, flags use symbols to effectively communicate. Flags are used in celebrating particular events and are also used in events to pass around ideas. They are also flown at a half mast in honor of dead heroes.

Sir Isaac Newton was one of the greatest scientists of all times. One of his major achievements was the law of gravity. Today’s post is dedicated to Sir Isaac Newton and his achievements.

Introduction:

Sir Isaac Newton

Name: Sir Isaac Newton

Born: 25th December 1642 in Lincolnshire, England

Died: 20th March 1727 in Middlesex, England

Major Fields:

Mathematics

Physics

Astronomy

Major Achievements:

Universal gravitation

Newton’s method

Isaac Newton was born on 25th December, 1642 and by then his father had already died a few months earlier. Thus he was raised by his mother and his step father. But his later life has been known for many scientific discoveries that have been used in modern day designs, discoveries, scientific researches and developments. In school he had been noted for his despising the curriculum in use because, to him, it lacked the real substance scientific analysis requires. Interestingly, when he later got his masters degree and was able to offer lectures at the university, his lectures have been described as having been too difficult for his students.

The works of Isaac Newton have mainly been well pronounced in physics where he made a number of discoveries. Firstly, he managed to discover that light can be split in many colors – not just one. In all the discoveries and researches he came up with, the universal law of gravitation is one of the most famous as it even came from his observing the falling of objects to the ground instead of the other way round. Giving tribute to his discovery of the force of gravity, and its universal law even led to the naming of the SI unit for force as the Newton. In addition, through his consistent experiments, Isaac Newton discovered the three laws of motion which have been named as Newton’s Laws of Motion.

His works also extended to some discoveries he made in optics which later made it easy for others to develop the other technological inventions that followed later. But, even in mathematics, Isaac made great contributions in various areas. Firstly, he discovered the calculus method of dealing with mathematical problems. But his reluctance to have his works published led to some rival scientists and mathematicians attempting to take credit when they made earlier publications of his works. In the same field of mathematics Newton also made a discovery of the binomial theorem concept.